Growing better together at Five Mile Wetland [NZ]Friday 4 Sep 2026
The collaboration centres on a new network of pest traps that will support predator control at the wetland, building on years of community-led restoration work including planting, weed management and habitat care in one of Rotorua’s best-known public wetland sites. Kaingaroa Tipu GM Sustainability Colin Maunder said the partnership reflects the organisation’s wider commitment to caring for the forest beyond the trees it grows. “Protecting places like Five Mile takes ongoing effort, and predator control is a big part of that, especially in wetlands where threatened bird species live,” he says. “This is about long-term stewardship – supporting healthier ecosystems as well as productive forests.” What makes this project especially fitting is the role timber plays in it. Timber manufacturer Abodo has repurposed off-cuts from its manufacturing process into wooden pest trap boxes for use at the wetland and around Whakarewarewa Forest, creating a simple example of circular forestry in action. Sustainably grown timber harvested from the wider Kaingaroa Forest Estate is returning to help protect the landscape it came from. Abodo Sustainability Lead Jade Harris says this practical action makes partnerships like this meaningful. “It’s a simple idea, but it shows how the right partnership can take a useful construction material into something that protects biodiversity as well,” she says. “Instead of becoming waste, these off-cuts are going back into the forest to do a job.” The traps, hand-crafted by the Men’s Shed, have been installed in the forest with Kaingaroa Tipu staff among those making weekly checks to monitor and report on the various pests captured. In the first four weeks, 220 pests were caught, including rats, hedgehogs and mice. Because Five Mile is a popular public site, the use of safe, toxin-free trapping methods is an important part of the approach. Red Stag near Waipa is one of many supporters of biodiversity protection in and around Whakarewarewa Forest and Five Mile Wetland. Site Project Manager & Electrical Engineer Anthony Gare also serves on the Whakarewarewa Pest Free Trust and says the latest collaboration is another tangible example of what can be achieved when organisations work together. “No single organisation can do this alone – biodiversity protection works best when efforts are connected. We know that small actions that are sustained can have a big impact.” Source & image credit: Kaingaroa Tipu  | ||
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